Mr
Johan de Vries
Fabrication lead based in Woodstock.
What Johan looks after day to day
Johan de Vries runs the fabrication floor at our Woodstock atelier with a steady hand and a sharp eye for detail. Each morning, he checks the timber racks, ensures the steel stock is accounted for and preps the CNC for the day’s nested cutting jobs. He gives the metal welders their panel layouts, then moves to the sanding bays, confirming the finish samples for Baobab Lamp stems and Studio Benches. Johan is often seen with a tape measure clipped to his pocket and a pencil behind his ear, walking between the joinery benches and assembly area, keeping progress on track.
He keeps the smaller tools in their proper places and ensures the extraction fans are running before anyone starts shaping Karoo Screen segments or prepping Canopy Pendant rings. Johan oversees glue-ups for Journal Box Editions, checks the fit of brass inlays for Maker Mark pieces and signs off on the packing of Veld Trays before they head off to the showrooms. Any day with an install booked, Johan loads the bakkie himself, ticking off each plinth and shelf, making sure everything is secure for the road up the N1.
How Johan works with clients and makers
Johan is the main connection between what clients imagine and what comes out of the Woodstock workshop. He meets with designers and specifiers on the factory floor, showing them how a Map Cabinet South drawer slides, or how a Textile Panel Frame can hang flat in a stoep with plenty of wind. When a client sends in a sketch for a custom Harbour Shelf or wants a Foyer Plinth adjusted to fit a tight lift, Johan pulls out the relevant templates and walks them through options on site.
He’s regularly in touch with the Durban and Pretoria teams, answering calls about wood finishes that won’t warp in Hillcrest humidity or advising on brass treatments for a Tyger Valley foyer. When a maker from Joburg wants to see if their ceramic can be paired with our Studio Jig, Johan tests the fit and shares measurements back. If anything needs an unscheduled fix, like a Baobab Lamp that arrived with a loose shade, Johan organises his team to make it right, often before the day’s out.
- Fitting Karoo Screens for open-plan offices
- Adapting Veld Trays for cafes with narrow counters
- Consulting on finish samples for Map Cabinet South installations
- Debugging hardware for Canopy Pendant runs before they leave the floor
When to ask for Johan by name
Reach out to Johan de Vries when your request gets technical or practical. If you need custom dimensions for a Foyer Plinth, help with special mounting for a Harbour Shelf, or advice on the strength of a Studio Bench for a school art room, Johan is the person to address. He’s also your point if you’re not sure which timber will handle a Joburg winter or you’re coordinating with our team on a tricky install. If your email subject line says 'Attention: Johan, fabrication query', it will land straight with him and he’ll see to it personally.